Rail-chair.



A. G. LIEBMANN.

BAIL 01111111.. V APPLICATION FILED APR.28,1913.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

AUGUST G. LIEIBMANN, OF BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOB, TO VIG'NOLES RAILCHAIR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAIL-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. .26, 1915.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 764,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, AUGUST Gr. LIEBMLANN, citizen of the United States,residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Chairs, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway track appliance and particularly tomeans for holding the rail to the tie.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a very simple,easily formed rail chair so constructed as to support the rail againstlateral and vertical strains and stresses and provided with meanspermitting the vertical adjustment of the rail by using shims and withmeans whereby the rail may be laterally shifted with relation to thechair without removing the primary fastenings whereby the chair itselfis held to the tie or other supporting structure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a chair and railbraces so constructed that the rail braces will have interlockingengagement with the abutments of the chair but so formed that the bracesmay be wedged into engagement with the chair or raised vertically andlocked in adjusted position to conform to any elevation of the rail. Anda further object of the invention is to so construct the rail braces andchair that in case of any elevation of the rail through the action offrost, the rail braces or the locking means therefor will yield to theslight extent necessary to compensate for such emergency elevations ofthe rail without any likelihood of the base flange of the rail beingsheared and, of course, without any eifect upon the primary fasteningsof the chair to the tie.

Other objects of the invention will of course appear in the followingdescription.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a por tion of the tie, my improvedchair thereon and a rail supported on the chair, the rail being shownpartly in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of theconstruction; Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of one of the driftbolts whereby the braces are locked in adjusted position with relationto the chair.

Referring to these figures, A designates a ably by means of screw spikes3 of a standard form. These screw spikes have many advantages over theordinary driven spike, as is well understood by those skilled in theart.

Disposed at each end of the bed plate and along the median line of saidbed plate are upstanding abutments l, these abutments being in line witheach other and extending in a plane transverse to the line of the rail.Each of said abutments has a vertical inner edge face 5 and a downwardlyand out wardly inclined outer edge face. Slidingly mounted on each ofthese abutments for vertical movement is a shoe 6, each shoe beingbifurcated or U-shaped in plan so as to fit snugly upon the upstandingabutment, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In other words, each shoe isrecessed or slotted upon its outer face, and the abutment ifits withinthe recess or slot. Each abutment i is formed with a vertical series oftransverse apertures designated 7. Each aperture, as illustrated, isapproximately circular in form but is provided with a lateral extension8 directed toward the middle of the chair. Each of the shoes 6 is alsoprovided with one or more transversely extending apertures 9, each ofthese apertures having a lateral extension and the apertures in the shoebeing of the same diameter and size as the apertures 7 in the abutment land be ing adapted to register with said apertures in the correspondingabutment. The inside face of each shoe is formed with a nearly circularbead or bulb 10 which is longer than the width of the shoe and extendsout at each side thereof. Each of these bulbs or beads is formed with aperforation for a bolt or other suitable fastening 11.

Disposed against the rail on each side thereof are the rail braces 12.Each rail brace extends downward and outward from the head of the railand at its lower end is formed with a basal portion 12 having a verticaloutside face which bears against the vertical face of the shoe. Thisbasal portion l2 is formed with a nearly circular recess 12 adapted toreceive and embrace the bead or bulb 10 as illustrated in Fig. 2. Itwill be obvious, therefore, that the braces must be slid upon the bulbsor beads 10 from one end thereof. The lower face of the basal portion 12is slightly rounded and fits between the edge of the base flange of therail and the corresponding shoe 6. Each rail brace at its upper end isprovided with an inwardly extending portion 13 which fits beneath thehead of the rail at the intersection of the head with the flange and aninwardly extending portion 13 which engages with the base of the rail atthe intersection of the flange and web. When the rail braces arepositioned as illustrated in Fig. 2 any lateral thrust upon the railwill be transmitted to these downwardly and outwardly extending bracesand translated into a nearly direct vertical thrust. Furthermore, therail is held both at its head and at its base from either lateralmovement or from lateral tipping movement.

For the purpose of locking the shoe in place upon the abutment and forthe further purpose of providing means for wedging the shoes and therail braces laterally or downwardly, I provide the drift boltsdesignated ll, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. Each drift bolthas a nearly cylindrical portion of uniform diameter throughout itslength which extends through the passages 7 and 9 and a laterallyprojected fin 15 which extends through the extensions 8 of the passages7 and through the lateral extension of the passage 9. The edge face ofthis fin is tapered longitudinally, that is, is inclined toward one endand toward the longitudinal axis of the bolt and the upper and lowerfaces of the fin converge at one end so that the fin forms a doublewedge which when the drift bolt is inserted acts to force thecorresponding shoe inward and downward. One end of the drift bolt isformed with a head and the other end with a threaded extension adaptedto receive a nut 16. This nut may be of any suitable character but asillustrated is provided with a series of perforations whereby a pin orspanner may be inserted in the nut for turning it. Preferably the nut isof such character that it can not be turned by ordinary means, but mustbe turned by means of a specially constructed wrench thus preventingmalicious tampering with the nut.

Under normal circumstances the rail B will rest flat down upon the faceof the bed plate 2, but it often is necessary to elevate the rail aslight distance so as to bring it to a proper level with other rails.This elevation is ordinarily temporary to compensate for elevations ofthe rail caused by the action of frost. Underthese circumstances, a shim17 is inserted beneath the rail to lift it. This shim as illustrated isvery thin but it is to be understood that the shim may be of any desiredthickness. Where the shim isvery thin, the taper of the fin 15 will besufficient to permit the introduction of the shim. W'here, however, arelatively thick shim is used it will be necessary to withdraw the driftbolts l l entirely, elevate the rail to the required distance and theninsert the drift bolts into the second, or even the third, of theapertures in the abutments. The series of vertical apertures 7 in theabutments permits the rail and rail braces to be raised and then thebraces held in their vertically adjusted position.

It often becomes necessary to shift a rail laterally to bring it togage. lVhere rails are spiked down upon a tie or upon a tie plate, thisrequires the service of a section gang, as the spikes have to bewithdrawn, the rail shifted and the spikes redriven. Vith my improvedconstruction, this slight shifting of the rail laterally may beaccomplished by .one man and with an ordinary sledge. lVhere it isdesired to shift the rail laterally one of the drift bolts on one sideis released either entirely or partly and the drift bolt on the otherside driven farther in, whereupon-the outer face of the fin 15 will acttowedge the rail and the rail braces over upon the shoe. After theadjustment has been accomplishechthe .drift bolts are locked in positionby means of the nuts 16.

It will be seen that the drift bolts provide means for verticallyadjusting the braces to a relatively small degree and also provide meansfor locking the rail brace in various elevations depending upon theheight to which the rail is raised and that these bolts also providemeans for laterally adjusting the rail to gage. It is further to benoted that the rail brace 12 cannot be shifted longitudinally out ofengagement with the shoes by reason of the cotter pins or other suitablefastenings 11 and that they are held from any movement with relation tothe shoes, except that when the rail is.

raised under, for instance, the action of frost there will be a veryslight movement of the rail braces which will thus permit the railbraces to yield and prevent either the rail brace or the rail beingsheared by the elevation of the rail. It will furthermore be seen thatin lifting the rail under extreme force will not act to damage the chairor the rail holding means, or relieve the rail from the bracing actionof the rail braces 12.

It is to be pointed out that the chair is formed from a simplestructural element, namely a section of T-iron, and that the chairtherefore may readily be made by rolling and pressing, thus tending toeconomy of production and to the securing of a maximum strength for thechair. This form of my improved chair is particularly adapted for use onstraight track or on long tangents in prairie or valley lines. Itpermits the easy shifting of the rail to gage or the easy elevation ofthe rail, it holds the rail rigidly against thrusts from any directionand the rail may be easily connected to the chair or detached therefrom.

It will be noted that the tie is unmutilated by the constant driving andredriving of spikes and hence that the tie will last considerably longerthan is possible where spikes are used to hold the rail directly to thetie or to a tie plate. The primary fastenings of the chair to the tieneed not be changed at any time. As the tie will last longer becauseless subjected to disintegration through the driving of spikes, it iseconomically practical to apply a preservative to the tie or to providea water proof layer between the bed plate and the tie.

Particular attention may be called in connection with my improved railchair to the oflicial report of the Block Signal and Train Control Boardof the Interstate Commerce Commission, this report being dated June 29,1912, wherein certain requirements are laid down for rail supports andwherein the board says: A fundamental defect in design which is mostapparent is the failure to realize and appreciate the overturningmovement due to the wheel flange pressure against the head of the rail.It is not suiiicient that the tie should support the vertical loads andresist directly horizontal thrusts and the tendency of the track to movelaterally and longitudinally, but the overturning movement must beresisted. In order that the tie may properly support the stressestransmitted to it by the rail, a suitable fastening of the rails to theties is most essential. Further the report states that under conditionsexisting in a large proportion of the railroads in this country themeans of adjustment of rail to tie must be such as to admit of blockingup or shimming. The board further says that adequate means should beprovided for shimming or for widening gage and this means should notinvolve lost motion and change of adjustment. It is pointed out that myimproved rail chair, as heretofore described, conforms to all of therequirements referred to in this report and at the same time that thefastenings are not of a complicated nature and that the chairs may bemade relatively cheap.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate,upwardly extending oppositely disposed abutments, mounted on the bedplate, members vertically movable upon said abutments, means for holdingsaid members at variously vertically adjusted positions upon theabutments, and rail braces engaging said members.

2. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingoppositely dis-- posed abutments, vertically movable members embracingthe said abutments, means for holding said members adjusted at variouselevations upon the abutments, and rail braces detachably engaging saidmembers.

3. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingoppositely disposed abutments, vertically movable members embracing thesaid abutments, means for holding the said members at various elevationswith relation to the abutments and wedging said members laterally, andrail braces detachably engaging said members.

4. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingoppositely disposed abutments, vertically movable members embracing thesaid abutments, railbraces engaging said member for common verticalmovement, drift bolts passing transversely through each of said membersand the corresponding abutment, and means for holding said drift boltsin position.

5. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingoppositely disposed abutments, the abutments extending parallel to thelength of the bed plate but transverse to the direction of the railsupported thereon, rail braces engaging said members for common verticalmovement, vertically movable members embracing the said abutments,wedge-shaped drift bolts passing transversely through each of saidmembers and the corresponding abutment, and means for holding said driftbolts in position.

6. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingoppositely disposed abutments, the abutments extending parallel to thelength of the bed plate but transverse to the direction of the railsupported thereon, vertically movable members embracing the saidabutments, drift bolts passing through the apertures in the said membersand the abutments, each drift bolt being formed with a latterlyextending tapered fin adapted to exert a \vedging action upon saidmembers. I

7. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate,vertically disposed abutments at opposite ends of the bed plate, membershaving sliding engagement With hold them in shifted position.

said abutments, rail braces adapted to engage with said members, andwedges engaging the abutments and the members and adapted to shift saidmembers laterally an 8. A rail chair of the character describedincluding a bed plate, vertically disposed abutments at opposite ends ofthe bed plate, members having a sliding engagement with said abutments,rail braces adapted to engage with said members, and wedges engaging theabutments and adapted to shift said members vertically and hold them inadjusted position.

9. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingupstanding abutments at each end, members having sliding engagement withsaid abutments, and rail braces having sliding engagement with themembers in one direction but interlocked with said members for a commonmovement in another direction.

10. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingoppositely disposed upstanding abutments, vertically movable membershaving sliding engagement with said abutments, each of said membersbeing formed with a transversely extending horizontal bead or bulb, andrail braces having each a recess in its basal end for receiving saidbead or bulb.

11. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate,oppositely disposed upstanding abutments at each end of the bed plate,shoes having sliding engagement with said abutments for verticalmovement but interlocked therewith from lateral movement, each of saidshoes having a transversely extending bead or bulb circular in sectionand each brace having a transversely extending circular recess in itsbasal end to receive said bead, and means for holding the shoes invertically adjusted positions upon the abutments.

12. A rail chair of the character described including a bed plate havingoppositely disposed abutments spaced from each other a distance greaterthan the width of a rail base, said abutments extending in alongitudinal plane relative to the bed plate, each of said abutmentsbeing formed with a vertical series of drift bolt passages, each passagehaving a lateral extension, shoes embracing said abutments and eachformed with a transverse drift bolt passage having the same form as thepassages in the abutments, the inner face of the shoe being formed witha transversely extending bead or bulb, drift bolts passing through saidpassages in the shoes and abutments and each formed at one side with alongitudinally tapering wedging fin, means for holding the drift boltsin wedging position, and rail braces downwardly and outwardly inclined,the basal portion of each rail brace being formed With a recess adaptedto receive the bead or bulb on the corresponding shoe.

13. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projectingupward therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment andco-acting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to theabutment and engaging therewith, the rail brace having lockingengagement with said member.

let. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projectingupward therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment andcoacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to theabutment and engaging therewith, the rail b "ace having lockingengagement with said member at its lower end.

15. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projectingupward there from, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment andcoacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to theabutment, and engaging therewith said member and the rail brace havingone a bead and the other a hollow bulb embracing said bead.

16. A rail chair comprising a basal memher, an abutment projectingupward therefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment andcoacting therewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to theabutment and engaging therewith, said brace having interlockingengagement with the member at its lower end for common vertical movementbut for independent movement parallel to the rail.

17. A rail chair comprising a basal member, an abutment projecting uptherefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coactingtherewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutmentand engaging therewith, means for holding the member in a verticallyadjusted position, the rail brace being detachably engaged by themember.

18. A rail chair including a basal member, an abutment projecting uptherefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coactingtherewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutmentand engaging therewith, means for holding the member in a verticallyadjusted position, the rail brace being detachably engaged by themember, and means for forcing said member inward toward the rail.

19. A rail chair including a basal mem ber, an abutment projecting uptherefrom, a rail brace disposed inward of said abutment and coactingtherewith, a member vertically adjustable with relation to the abutmentand engaging therewith, means for holding the member in a verticallyadjusted position, and a wedge engaged between the ill) abutment andsaid member and acting to force it inward.

20. The combination with a bed-plate having oppositely disposedupstanding abutments, of a rail adjustable laterally and vertically ofthe bed-plate between said abutments, members having sliding engagementwith the abutments, and rail braces having sliding engagement with themembers in one direction but interlocked with said members for a commonmovement in another direction.

21. The combination with a bed-plate having spaced upstanding abutments,of a rail adapted to rest on the bed-plate or on a shim between saidabutments and adjustable vertically and laterally with respect to thebed-plate, members vertically movable upon said abutments, means forholding said members at various vertically adjusted positions upon theabutments, and rail braces having a pivotal connection with saidmembers.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST G. LIEBMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of .Patents, Washington, D. G.

